sidereusque gener. non hic violata curulis, turpia non Latios incestant nomina fastos; fortibus haec concessa viris solisque gerenda patribus et Romae numquam latura pudorem. Nuntia votorum celeri iam Fama volatu 270 moverat Aonios audito consule lucos. concinuit felix Helicon fluxitque Aganippe largior et docti riserunt floribus amnes. Uranie redimita comas, qua saepe magistra Manlius igniferos radio descripserat axes, 275 sic alias hortata deas: “patimurne, sorores, optato procul esse die nec limina nostri consulis et semper dilectas visimus aedes? notior est Helicone[179] domus. gestare curules et fasces subiisse libet. miracula plebi 280 colligite et claris nomen celebrate theatris. “Tu Iovis aequorei summersam fluctibus aulam oratum volucres, Erato, iam perge quadrigas, a quibus haud umquam palmam rapturus Arion. inlustret circum sonipes, quicumque superbo 285 perstrepit hinnitu Bactin, qui splendida potat stagna Tagi madidoque iubas adspergitur auro. “Calliope, liquidas Alciden posce palaestras: cuncta Palaemoniis manus explorata coronis adsit et Eleo pubes laudata Tonanti. 290 “Tu iuga Taygeti frondosaque Maenala, Clio, i Triviae supplex; non aspernata rogantem amphitheatrali faveat Latonia pompae. [179] codd. have _Stilichone_; Birt obelizes the line; it is only found in V; _Helicone_ Gevartius. * * * * * Page 359 son-in-law direct the state. Here is no pollution of the consul’s office, no shameful names disgrace the Latin fasti; here the consulship is an honour reserved for the brave, given only to senators, never a source of scandal to Rome’s city.[180] Now had Fame, announcing our good fortune, winged her way to Aonia whose groves she stirred with the tidings of the new consul. Helicon raised a hymn of praise, Aganippe flowed with waters more abundant, the streams of song laughed with flowers. Then Urania, her hair wreath-crowned, Urania whose hand had oft directed Manlius’ compass in marking out the starry spheres, thus addressed the other Muses: “Sisters, can we bear to be absent this longed-for day? Shall we not visit our consul’s door and the house we have always loved? Better known to us is it than Helicon; gladly we draw the curule chair and bear the fasces. Bring marvels for the people’s delight and make known his name in the famed theatres. “Do thou, Erato, go visit the palace of Neptune beneath the sea and beg for four swift coursers such that even Arion could not snatch the prize from them. Let the Circus be graced by every steed to whose proud neighing Baetis re-echoes, who drinks of Tagus’ shining pools and sprinkles his mane with its liquid gold.